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how to turn off pointless footwell light

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by stevegoldfield, May 4, 2021.

  1. stevegoldfield

    stevegoldfield Junior Member

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    My 2017 Prius Prime has footwell lights, at least it comes on on the passenger side. This light seems completely pointless to me. I searched the manual, which does mention them but does not point to a switch to turn it off. Did Toyota really give us a useless light that cannot be turned off? I'd much rather have a dome light controlled by the door. Lighting the footwell, especially on the passenger side, has no utility I can think of. Is there really no way to switch it off?
     
  2. PiPLosAngeles

    PiPLosAngeles Senior Member

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    I'm confused:
    1. There is a dome light controlled by the door in the front and the back seats.
    2. You've never dropped something in your car? To say foot well lights are completely useless might be a stretch, but the added utility might be marginal.
     
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Our 2010 Prius (Canadian Touring) has them too, and I’ve got the same questions/concerns.
     
  4. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    AFAIK there is no switch, but if you really want to permanently turn it off, why don't you just remove the bulb or maybe a fuse if it is on a dedicated circuit. But why bother?
     
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  5. stevegoldfield

    stevegoldfield Junior Member

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    There are no lights under the roof of my Prius Prime, and no lights go on when I open any door. I've never dropped something that I could not see or find without that light. It makes zero sense to supply a light which cannot be turned off.


    In the remote event that I wanted that light on, I'd turn it on if there were a switch. Makes no sense to have it come on all the time.
     
    #5 stevegoldfield, May 5, 2021
    Last edited by a moderator: May 5, 2021
  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    IIRC, the Gen 3 ones function differently; they're only on when the doors open and stay on briefly after the doors close.

    For the Gen 4/Prime, they're on when the parking lights are on and there is two brightness stages - full brightness when the car is in Park and dimmed when the car is in Drive.
     
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  7. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Not on the middle of the roof, but on the front center roof with personal lights, there is a front interior light that turns on and off with the door if you set it that way. If yours don't turn on when you open the door, then you have it set as either ON or OFF position.
    upload_2021-5-5_14-31-29.png

    There are also rear interior lights that will operate with the door.
    upload_2021-5-5_14-35-14.png
     
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  8. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    My 2010 Gen 3 ones brighten in Park. I'm not positive whether they're off in Drive or merely dimmed.

    They're easily unplugged if that's your preference. At least the passenger side. Not sure I've ever tried to reach the driver side one; the knee airbag might complicate access, but then again it might not.
     
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  9. PiPLosAngeles

    PiPLosAngeles Senior Member

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    My 2021 doesn't have foot well lights at all.
     
  10. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    I just found this info. The footwell light is customizable. It can be set to either ON or OFF by using Techstream or other OBDII apps such as Carista. Yeah, not very convenient but at least you can turn it off without removing the bulb or a fuse.

    upload_2021-5-5_15-16-26.png
     
  11. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    IIRC, the glove box light on my 2005 never shut off, even when the box was closed.
     
  12. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    LE model I guess? It must be part of the “illuminated entry” feature.
    oh yeah. I forgot about that. And the ligh would leak through the gap in the push button.
     
  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Just for my sanity: it did shot off when the car was off?
     
  14. PiPLosAngeles

    PiPLosAngeles Senior Member

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    Yes. I try to avoid the big screen.
     
  15. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    I want to say yes, but it has been awhile since I sat in one.
     
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  16. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yes. Again, it’s tied to the parking lights. It’s off during the day
     
  17. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    The dim passenger footwell light in my 2012 is a simple low current LED, not a normal bulb. While some may find it pointless, it also seems almost pointless to add any switch or controls to it, which will cost more than the LED lamp itself. Unless the controller device had a surplus of output channels that otherwise go unused.

    If it is disturbing, and not controllable (apparently it became controllable sometime between 2012 and 2020 model years), just cover it with electrical tape, fingernail polish, or something similar. The power draw ought not be more than a couple mA. De minimus.
     
    #17 fuzzy1, May 6, 2021
    Last edited: May 6, 2021
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  18. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    I just found this thread. I was scrolling along, thinking, "Why doesn't someone just tell him it's in the customizable settings?" And along comes @Salamander_King and the kneeling pad errr ... owner's manual. :ROFLMAO:

     
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  19. citiprius

    citiprius Active Member

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    you can simply unplug that LED from the driver and passenger side:
    upload_2021-5-6_23-9-11.png

    upload_2021-5-6_23-10-30.png
     
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  20. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    "Simply." :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
     
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